A Fellow Republican

Paul Helmke, the new president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, applauded the California State Senate for "embracing this innovative technology," and he said he hopes Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger "will listen to a fellow Republican and sign this bill once it passes."

If Arnold signs this, the California GOP will still be counting on gun owners voting for him out of fear of Phil Angelides.

[More on microstamping]

A Hard Act to Follow

ESSEX, Vt. -- Hours after breaking up with his girlfriend, a man shot four people Thursday, including the girlfriend's mother and her co-worker at an elementary school, then shot himself in the head, police said.

Vermont? Can't everybody carry concealed there without a permit?

Not exactly.

From Act 113:

...The school board shall regulate or prohibit firearms or other dangerous or deadly weapons on school premises...

No person shall knowingly possess a firearm or a dangerous or deadly weapon while within a school building or on a school bus. A person who violates this section shall, for the first offense, be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both, and for a second or subsequent offense shall be imprisoned not more than three years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both...

This section shall not apply to:

(1) A law enforcement officer while engaged in law enforcement duties.

(2) Possession and use of firearms or dangerous or deadly weapons if the board of school directors, or the superintendent or principal if delegated authority to do so by the board, authorizes possession or use for specific occasions or for instructional or other specific purposes.

I'd guess maniac shooter Christopher Williams didn't have board permission. Any bets no one else did, either?

And guess who wouldn't have it any other way?

Some of us disagree, but alas, our voices don't carry as far.

Can't Explain

JT McAdams takes exception to Mayor Coleen Seng's description of her "primary responsibilities.":

Dear Mayor,

I was wondering if the following sounds like something you recited some time ago:

"I solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Nebraska, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office of Mayor in and for Lincoln, Nebraska, according to law and to the best of my ability."

Please explain where “safety and well being of” the citizens is indicated as your primary responsibility. Please explain why the above oath has been shoved somewhere down the line of your responsibilities. Please explain, Mayor, why you wish to be “Mother” to all the good citizens of Lincoln instead of what people elected you to be. Please explain why you think you know what’s best for everyone despite what the Constitution says. Please explain why your police chief’s opinion is relevant to upholding the Constitution of the UNITED STATES as well as your own state. Please explain to your electorate why they elected you in the first place, because I think some of them are wondering. Please explain. Please.

You have a lot of explaining to do.

Squirrely Democrats

Alphecca defines the problem.

Blognomicon just may have found the solution.

Do it for the children.

I love it when a plan comes together!

This Day in History: August 25

Influential political philosopher David Hume dies in Edinburgh, Scotland, on this day in 1776.

Although Hume died when the American Revolution was barely underway, his essay “Idea of a Perfect Commonwealth” greatly affected the ideas of the drafters of the federal Constitution in 1787.

I stopped posting these a while back because The History Channel website hadn't completed entries for the summer months. It looks like they're back on track, so I'm pleased to once more offer links.